Blog of Pastor Richard D. Dover

Blog of Pastor Richard D. Dover

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Pastor Richard D. Dover

This is the blog of Pastor Richard D. Dover. Pastor Richard is committed to sharing the Gospel with the lost, equipping the saints, and being the watchman on the wall for the Church and America. Read More

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Monthly Archives: December 2008

How Can I Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
The following are comments based upon the Bible itself, principles found in the Bible, and years of seeing individuals being baptized in the Holy Spirit and receiving the gift of tongues.

Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. He wants to be more than your Savior, he wants to be your Lord.

Remove all barriers: sin, unforgiveness, doctrinal hang-ups, pride, or any unclean thing that may block you from receiving from God. Don’t believe the lie that tongues is from the devil.

Ask to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Be specific. Tell the Lord you want the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. If you do not receive the first time you ask, ask again.Luke 11:9-13 (KJV)9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
As a believer, you are not asking for the Holy Spirit, you already have the Holy Spirit. You are asking to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

In this lesson we will be looking at various questions individuals have about this subject. In the previous lessons we gave Scriptural answers to the questions. In this lesson we will give a summary.

Do Christians receive the Holy Spirit when they are saved?
Yes, when you are born again (repent of your sins and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior) you receive the Holy Spirit.
John 3:1-6; Rom 8:9-11; 1 Cor 6:19; John 20:22

Do you have to be saved to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
Yes. Each time there is an example of individuals being Baptized in the Holy Spirit, it is obvious that they are born again. One of the obvious examples is the disicples. They are born again in John 20:22 and are BHS in Acts 1:4-5, 8.
Acts 8:14-19; Acts 10:34-48; Acts 19:1-6

Is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit different than the experience of Salvation?
Yes, it is subsequent to salvation. There are examples of those who were born again and then were BHS.
John 20:22; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 8:14-19; Acts 19:1-6

There are a variety of objections to the speaking in tongues. Almost all of these objections are not based upon Scripture. Instead they are based upon man’s opinions, negative experiences, and religious upbringing. How do we know this? Because in the Bible there are only a couple of ‘objections to tongues’. We will first look at the ‘negative statements’ about tongues in the Bible and then discuss the other objections to tongues.

When are Tongues Wrong in the Bible?The first thing we should state is that there are no passages that are against tongues. There are only passages that are against the mishandling of tongues.

When speaking to a person in tongues.
(Not when praying for a person in tongues. The Bible teaches that praying in tongues is praying in the spirit and speaking to God. There are certainly times when we are praying for somebody and we when to speak to God for insight and intervention.)
1 Cor 14:6-11 clearly forbids speaking to someone in tongues. It is saying that this would be of no value.

In a church setting when a message in tongues is given and there is no interpretation.
If a person is speaking in tongues during church and the tongues are directed to the church, there must be an interpretation.
1 Cor 14:5; 1 Cor 14:13; 1 Cor 14:27, 28

When tongues is used in a haughty, prideful way.
There is no specific verse that says this, but it only makes sense that this is wrong.

Other Objections to Tongues, but not Biblically based

Tongues have been done away with
There is absolutely no Bible verse that says tongues have been done away with. Some say there is no need for tongues since we have the Bible. Again there are no verses in the Bible to defend this position. Some will argue that 1 Cor 13:8 say that tongeus have been done away with. Let’s look at this verse in context.1 Corinthians 13:8-128 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
It becomes obvious when looking at the entire passage, that when it is speaking about prophesy and tongues, it is saying they will be done away with when the perfect comes-the perfect has not come. They will be done away when we know fully and are fully known-that does not happen until our glorified bodies.

The last time tongues was talked about in the Bible was in 1 Corinthians.
One must understand that 1 Corinthians was written to the church in Corinth because of the mishandling of tongues. There are other topics in 1 Corinthians and other books of the Bible that are not covered in other passages of Scripture.

Some who speak in tongues walk in sin, teach false doctrine, or are prideful
There certainly some who speak in tongues, walk in sin, teach false doctrines and have pride, but there are also those who do not speak in tongues that do the same. The tongues or lack of tongues are not the cause of sin, false doctrine, and pride.

Churches that allow tongues are not in order-there is chaos
This is certainly true of some churches, but again, not all-so cannot judge all because of some. There also is a danger of judging what is chaos by ones own upbringing, culture, preferences, etc. There are non tongue speaking churches in various parts of the world that would appear to be out of order and chaotic because of their culture, traditions, and style of worship compared to the U.S.A. There are things in the physical/natural realm that may seem chaotic if you do not understand how they operate-don’t have experience in the field of study.

Tongues are for preaching the Gospel only-no other purpose
Not biblical, not a single example in the Bible of tongues being used for this purpose. Some use Acts 2 as an example. But it does not say they were sharing the Gospel, only that they were magnifying God. There was no need for tongues to preach the Gospel, because all the people there would understand Aramaic or common Greek. They were there for the Passover Feast and day of Pentecost. How would they have been able to particpate in these ceremonies for years before there were tongues?

Tongues are for the purpose of judgment-not for any other purpose other than maybe to preach the Gospel.
Those who hold this position based it upon two passages of Scripture: 1 Cor 14:21 which is referencing Isaiah 28:11. They are basing an entire doctrine off of two passages of Scripture when there are many more passages that show tongues are for the evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, to pray in the spirit, to be edified or to edify the church, to praise God.

Jesus did not speak in tongues.
How do we know this? John states that they are many things that Jesus did that are not written down in Scripture. Also, the Bible teaches that Jesus received the fullness of God while on earth so there may not have been the need for Him to have tongues.

Tongues is of the devil.
There is not a single reference of tongues every being from the devil. That is not to say that tongues can never be of the devil. The devil loves to counterfeit so there certainly can be counterfeit tongues. But if a born again, sold out for Jesus, Christian who is not walking in willful sin seeks God for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, gets tongues, it would not be from the devil. That would be saying that God is purposely letting them be deceived. Also, Jesus said the following in regards to asking for the Holy Spirit.Luke 11:9-13 (KJV)9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

I have asked for tongues and God has not given it to me, so it cannot be for today.
There could be a variety of reasons why a person has not received tongues. There are plenty of things that each of us may ask God for, but not receive it.

If God wanted me to have it, He would give it to me and every believer
Not if there is willful sin, unbelief, critical of those who have it, etc. Also, all of God’s gifts are according to His timing, not ours.

Only some can have tongues.
This belief is based upon 1 Cor 12:111 Corinthians 12:11 (KJV) 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
It needs to be noted that this verse is in the context of a specifically type of tongues. Tongues as a supernatural gift which would normally be used with the gift of interpretation.
If tongues is an evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and if tongues is for the purpose to pray in the spirit, to worship God, and edify the one with tongues, would God want only certain Christians to have tongues. That would be an unjust God.

SummaryThere is no biblical reason to take a stand against the proper use of tongues.

In the next study we will take a look at common questions about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and tongues. We will end our study soon with how to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and to receive tongues.

In the previous studies we took a look at every verse in the New Testament related to tongues/languages. We have also taken a look at every verse related to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the terms related to this phrase (based upon Scripture defining Scripture). So what is the purpose of tongues? We will summarize with each purpose and the verses that show this is the purpose for tongues. If anyone reading this study believes there are different or other purposes, go ahead and post a comment with Scriptures to defend your position.

So far, in all the verses we have looked at (we have looked at all of them in the New Testament, except these last few verses) in the last 12 lessons, tongues is never spoken of as a bad thing. We have seen in 1 Cor 14:1-19, they can be used in a wrong manner.
In this lesson we will take a look at this passage of Scripture and see what Paul is and is not saying. As we read through these passages we are going to see if Paul at any time says that tongues are evil, bad, done away with, condemned, or for the purpose of preaching the Gospel.

We will first list all of 1 Cor 14:20-40 and then take a look at each verse.

So far, in all the verses we have looked at (we have looked at all of them in the New Testament, except these last few verses) in the last 12 lessons, tongues is never spoken of as a bad thing. We have seen in 1 Cor 14:1-19, they can be used in a wrong manner.
In this lesson we will take a look at this passage of Scripture and see what Paul is and is not saying. As we read through these passages we are going to see if Paul at any time says that tongues are evil, bad, done away with, or condemned.

We will first list all of 1 Cor 14:20-40 and then take a look at each verse.

1 Corinthians 14:1-51 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tonguedoes not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

Before we study out these and all the verses in 1 Cor 14 it should be noted by the context of Chapter 12, 13, and 14 that when Paul is speaking about tongues, he is talking about true tongues, not false tongues. The tongues he is talking about is the tongues that come from God, not the devil or man. How do we know? Because if you read the context, he compares the gift of tongues with the gift of prophecy and other gifts. Not once in all three chapters does he ever say anything about a false tongues.

In the previous lesson we looked at Acts 2:1-21. We seen in this passage that there is no direct evidence that the purpose for tongues was to preach the Gospel. Before we look at other passages in Acts where tongues is spoken of, let’s look at what Jesus had to say about tongues in Mark 16: 15-18.

Mark 16:15-1815 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. 17 "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.

Notice that the phrase ‘new tongues’ is associated with miracles. So, this we do know that to speak in tongues is a miracle. So, it is not something a person can learn.

Are Tongues for the Purpose of Preaching the Gospel?There are those who believe that the main purpose for tongues is to preach the Gospel. They base this mainly on one passage of Scripture. We are going to look at this passage in context and then in our next lesson we will look at many other passages that have the word tongues or languages to see what the Bible says is the purpose of tongues.

Acts 2:1-211 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?8 “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?9 “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”13 But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.”14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.15 “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:17 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy.19 ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.20 ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.21 ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’